In addition to the federal and local housing laws noted above, the District of Columbia (D.C.) has several groundbreaking laws prohibiting housing practices that have historically hindered low-income households and returning citizens from renting. Listed below are a few examples:
| Law | Basic Overview | Link to More information |
| Source of income (SOI) under OHR Guidance update; No. 16-01 | For prospective renters who use housing subsidies, the landlord cannot discriminate against them based on the following: a. their credit and rental payments before receipt of a rent subsidy, b. their income level and credit scores, unless required by federal law. |
OHR Updated SOI Housing Discrimination Guidance _0.pdf (dc.gov) |
| Fair Criminal Record Screening for Housing Act, updated 2017 | “A housing provider may not inquire, directly or indirectly, into any criminal background information before making a conditional offer of housing – this includes arrests”. There are a few exceptions to this law. | FCRSAHousing_GENERALPreview_092517.pdf (dc.gov) |
| Late Fee Fairness Amendment Act of 2016 | A landlord: - cannot evict a tenant based on not paying a late fee. - can only charge a tenant up to 5% of the rent as a late fee. - cannot take a late fee out of a late rent payment that a tenant makes. - must calculate the late fee based on the tenant’s share of the rent if the tenant receives a rent subsidy. - click on the link for additional late fee requirements that the landlord must adhere to. |
Late Fee FAQ.pdf (dc.gov) |
| Rent Control | “Tenants who reside in rent control units and are elderly (age 62 and over) or have a disability, the standard rent increase cap is the CPI-W*, the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (SS COLA), or five (5) percent, whichever is the least. To qualify for this lower cap, the tenant must have registered their "elderly" or "disability" status with the Rent Administrator's office.” *Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the greater D.C. metropolitan area. |
Rent Control Fact Sheet 2018.pdf (dc.gov) Microsoft Word - 2023-03-01 Form 6 Instructions (tenant exemption) (Final) (dc .gov) RAD Form 6 Tenant's Registration of Age or Disability Rent Exemption_0.pdf (dc.gov) |
| Eviction Record Sealing Authority and Fairness in Renting Amendment Act of 2022 | The Office of Human Rights (OHR) states, “The Act established a number of new requirements for District housing providers. Examples of the new requirements include: (1) prohibition against charging excessive application fees and using certain information, like evictions that are more than three years old, as the basis for taking adverse actions; (2) requiring a refund of application fees in certain circumstances; (3) and requiring a notice of costs, eligibility criteria, and prospective tenant rights." 4) prohibits housing providers from filing to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent if the amount owed is less than $600, and 5) other requirements. |
Listed below are additional D.C. tenant laws and resources you can review before signing a residential lease in D.C.:
- Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Tenants' Rights: 2013.04.26 Elderly Tenant Rights Brochure.OTA_.pdf (dc.gov)
- Tenant’s Bill of Rights: 2015 07 03 OTA D.C. Tenant Bill of Rights ODAI-OTA FINAL.pdf
- What tenants should know about the Residential Lease Amendment Act of 2016: Residential Lease Law FAQ-FINAL.pdf (dc.gov)
- Rent Control Fact Sheet: Rent Control Fact Sheet 2018.pdf (dc.gov)
- Tenant’s Rights in a Foreclosed Property: tenant foreclosure rights_draft3 (dc.gov)
- Tenant’s Guide to Eviction: Guide to Eviction | ota.dc.gov)
If you are a D.C. tenant or prospective tenant and have questions or concerns about your rights or the landlord’s responsibilities, you can contact:
- D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA)- This agency provides guidance and technical assistance to resolve tenancy disputes. You can contact the Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA) at 202-719-6560, TTY: 711, or visit the website, OTA Housing Assistance and Community Service | ota
- D.C. Office of Disability Rights (ODR) – This agency provides guidance on anti-discrimination laws and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. ODR also has a list of D.C. government agencies’ ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Coordinators. ADA Coordinators ensure that government agencies adhere to ADA requirements. You can contact the Office of Disability Rights (ODR) at (202) 724-5055; TTY: (202) 727-3363, or visit the website, Agency ADA Coordinators | odr (dc.gov)
| FYI Corner |
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How to Request Assistance from |
Here’s a video to watch for more information- HUD-Certified Housing Counselors – For free tenancy counseling, contact a Community-Based Organization (CBO) near you to schedule an appointment with a HUD-certified housing counselor. See the Resources Section for contact information.
- The Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (MOCRS) - This branch of the mayor's office ensures that D.C. residents receive quick responses to their requests, complaints, and questions regarding city services and agencies. The mayor provides at least two MOCRS representatives for each Ward in the city. You can contact MOCRS at (202) 442-8150, TTY: 711, or visit the website | mocrs (dc.gov). To find the MOCRS Representative for your Ward, please click on the link below:
Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services General Directory | mocrs (dc.gov)